In answer to your question: Shariff Willis continued his gang activities until he threatened the life of someone with a "Mac Ten" or some such weapon and was sent to Federal Prison. Other prominent Gang leaders of such as the "Detroit Boys", "Bogus Boys" and prominent Gang families were pursued and imprisoned. (Most are now getting out and fighting to resume control of the lucrative illegal drug distribution industry they left behind.
The effect of the "Gang Summits" was to give some legitimization to the gangs and to undermine the credibility and morale of the police department. This silliness was similar to the New York Tammany Hall and Chicago scandals of the 20's and 30's when politicians were in bed with the Mafia and J.Edgar swore there was no such thing as the Mafia and "Organized Crime". What has never been explored is the possible scandals of our own politicians involvement and getting in bed with these organized criminal gangs. Did money pass between the gangs and politicians? Or were our politicians really that stupid? In the 1920's and 30's such summits were organized to put an end to gang violence. Such summits gave rise to the "family" system of the New York Mafia and to "Murder Incorporated", but gang violence did indeed go down. The same happened in Minneapolis, gang violence did go down because of such summits, but mostly because of pressure from Federal law enforcement inspired by then United States Attorney David Lillehaug. Lillehaug placed such heat on Organized Gangs that orders were sent out by "Gang Leaders" that no one was to be killed for any reason. (If checked you might find a rise in butt and leg shootings during this "Pease" period). These orders were supposedly enforced very strictly with offenders being harshly dealt with because of the heat created by innocents being killed. This heat interrupted drug business and put gang leaders at risk. Lillehaug left the office and new US Attorneys placed little or no importance on such efforts. Now new gangs are again appearing to attempt to seize the hottest market in the drug world. Minneapolis, the Golden El Dorado of the drug world, where a $10.00 "Rock" can be sold for $20.00. If you are caught you get scolded the first 25 times by "Drug Judge" and let go to resume business the next day. In Minneapolis we do not have three strikes and you are out, we use the "Fishing Model" of criminal incarceration. "Catch and Release" until you reach trophy size of 100 to 150 arrests for drug activity. The City Inc. was also supposedly involved in organizing of the "Gangs for Peace". I am amazed that Chief Olson would be involved with the City Inc. after the experience of 3rd precinct officers with them. I was once told by a desk sergeant at the Third to go watch the Lake Street Building and if I did not see a drug deal on their front steps in the first 30 minutes he would "Kiss" a certain part of my anatomy. He was quite safe with such a bet. When I drove down to observe I looked at my watches second hand and the first deal took place, not in 30 minutes but, in thirty seconds. This was ten or twelve years ago and I have no idea if City, Inc. continues to employee Gang leaders or not, but at that time it was an organizing focus for gang activity in the opinion of many. MAD DADS is still around, though I was unaware of MCDA and Weed & Seed involvement with them. Someone on the List must know how to contact them. MAD DADS is a quite different kind of effort from the others mentioned in your post and should be clearly differentiated from them. MAD DADS has apparently been doing good work and supporting community residents' efforts to stop drug dealing and Gang activity in their communities. MAD DADS' efforts when they supported the East Phillips Community on Bloomington Avenue is a case in point. Some "DAD" indeed could use your shirts for such an event. MAD DADS shows true leadership, not by words but by praxis. Jim Graham ----- Original Message ----- From: j c harmon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2002 2:32 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Doug Grow: Activist or act. Spike Moss is a conundrum > Hey, what ever happened to Shariff Willis/Gangs for Peace and all that > stuff? SSB and him organized some sort of 'get out of gangs free' > organization in the say, early 90s. Anyone know? > How about a group called MAD DADS - Men Against Destruction -Defending > Against Drugs and Social disorder? > I've had two t-shirts in my office here for nearly two years now and no one > knows who should get them. On the back the partners in the endeavor are > listed as follows: > Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Weed&Seed, MCDA, Center for Fathering > They're nice shirts - a rather kelly green w/black print, both size L. > If you know and are the FIRST caller/emailer I'll mail them to you... > JHarmon > Cleveland > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: > http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx > > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
